- North Korea runs third nuclear test halts rally in USD/JPY
- Cable hits fresh yearly lows
- Nikkei 1.94% Europe 0.04%
- Oil $96.83
- Gold $1644/oz.
AUD: NAB Business Confidence 3 vs. 2
CHF: CPI -0.3% vs. -0.3%
GBP: CPI 2.7% vs. 2.7%
GBP: PPI Input 1.3% vs. 0.9%
GBP: RICS House Prices -4% vs. 0%
North America
CAD: BOC Governor Carney Speaks 8:45
Its been a cautious trading session in FX in early European dealing as traders reacted to the news of another nuclear test in North Korea and the policy statement from G7 which reaffirmed that members would not target exchange rates. The move was seen as an essential green light for Japan to continue its yen weakening policy while at the same time suggesting the European leaders would not formally act on any strengthening of the EUR/USD.
Both cable and Aussie continued to sink with each making fresh new yearly lows. In UK the drop was prompted by speculation that the BoE inflation report due tomorrow will be dovish. The actual CPI numbers came in line at 2.7% as forecast, but the primary components that increased were alcohol and tobacco indicating that final demand in the UK economy remains anemic. Cable has now broken the key 1.5600 level and looks on its way to test 1.5500 as sentiment towards the UK economy continues to sour.
Meanwhile, in Asia, a surprise announcement by North Korea that the country has just conducted its third underground nuclear test put a crimp in the USD/JPY rally as risk aversion sentiment suddenly settled on the currency market. Earlier, at the close of North American session, USD/JPY exploded to fresh three year highs hitting 94.45 on comments from the US Treasury that it supported Japanese efforts to reflate its economy.
The statement by U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard said the United States supports Japanese efforts to end deflation and re-invigorate growth. This was a significant development that indicated that the US is willing to tolerate a much weaker yen in order to help Japan revive its economy and help stimulate global growth.
The tacit approval by US officials may have been a geo-political as well as an economic action. Japan, which is seen as the US's closest ally in Asia needs to act as a counterbalance to China which is increasingly viewed by US authorities not only as major trading partner but as the primary military foe in the 21st century. As Japan's export driven economy has been hobbled by the dual forces of strong yen and escalating conflicts with China, its ability to challenge and check China has been weakened materially. Therefore, the statements by the US Treasury may be part of a longer term plan by the US to revive the Japanese economy and as such suggests that USD/JPY could rise to 100.00 over the next several months without much US opposition.
In the meantime however, the nuclear test by the North Koreans clearly took the markets by surprise and took the wind out of the sails of the USD/JPY rally. According to the NY Times:
The test set off a scramble among Washington's Asian allies to assess what the North Koreans had done. The United States sent aloft aircraft equipped with delicate sensors that may, depending on the winds, be able to determine whether it was a plutonium or uranium weapon. The Japanese defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, said Japan had ordered the dispatch of an Air Self-Defense Force jet to monitor for radioactivity in Japanese airspace. Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, told Parliament that the country was considering 'its own actions, including sanctions, to resolve this and other issues.
Yet as with so many incidents with North Korea in the past, this move was designed to provoke rather than initiate any sustained aggressive action and the markets will likely shrug off the developments as the day proceeds. USD/JPY has recovered the 94.00 figure and could make another challenge on the 94.50 figure. A break there would open the path towards the psychologically key 95.00 level that is likely to attract a massive amount of speculative interest.